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Nick Gerda
What I cover
I’m a reporter focusing on government accountability in Southern California, including around the homelessness crisis. I try to find answers to questions like: Why does it often seem like there’s so little progress around homelessness? What can be done to make systems more effective? And how are people in charge of these systems using their authority?
My background
I grew up in L.A. and Orange County and previously covered the county government in Orange County for more than a decade — often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health and the role of money in politics. At LAist, my reporting on corruption spurred a criminal investigation that led one of Orange County’s most powerful officials to resign, plead guilty and get sentenced to years in prison for a scheme that diverted millions in food money from needy seniors. For that work, in 2025, I was honored to be named journalist of the year for California, SoCal and Orange County and to receive the national Dan Rather Medal for News and Guts.
My goals
I want my coverage to inform the public and inspire positive change by identifying areas for improvement in the ways leaders are exercising power.
Best way to reach me
Email:
ngerda@laist.com
. Signal: @
ngerda.47
Stories by Nick Gerda
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Before her time at L.A.’s homeless services agency, Lilly Simmering oversaw a county government department in Orange County that greenlit millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit now embroiled in a fraud scandal.
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County records obtained by LAist show officials failed to follow through on recommended precautions ahead of the costly fire, now topping $400 million in claims.
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The contracted work on mental health equity was supposed to be performed by the longtime partner — now wife — of a top aide to disgraced former county Supervisor Andrew Do. County officials cited LAist reporting in their demand for the money to be returned.
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The office attributed its findings of unspent funds to “a sluggish, inefficient [city] approach that is incompatible with timely spending.”
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The responses, from one Republican and one Democrat, include calls for an investigation and audit after an LAist investigative report.
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Officials are years behind schedule. A judge is pressing them to move much faster.
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If people are found in contempt, consequences can include fines or imprisonment. VA officials say the judge is acting illegally.
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The Republican is beating out Democratic challenger Frances Marquez, who has conceded.
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The winner of District 1 will join a five-member board that oversees a county of about 3 million residents with an annual budget of about $9 billion.
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El ganador del Distrito 1 se unirá a una junta de cinco miembros que supervisa un condado de alrededor de 3 millones de habitantes con un presupuesto anual de casi $9 mil millones.
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The contract Steel directed to her campaign mail vendor in 2020 charged taxpayers about $24 per meal, three times as much as vendors charged in two other Orange County supervisor districts, according to an LAist review of contracts.
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Who is Andrew Do? Why is his 23-year-old daughter involved? What does a county supervisor even do? We explain the theft of public funds that prosecutors say took place in Orange County.
